Franklin's day brings questions

KIRBY ARNOLD, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, March 23, 2002

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Ryan Franklin said he's healthy and, as far as he's knows, still in the running for the Seattle Mariners' fifth starting job.

Both of those questions, along with a few eyebrows, were raised Friday after Franklin pitched only three innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, then headed for the Mariners' clubhouse with one of the team's trainers.

The trainer went along just to help Franklin ice his arm.

"I'm fine," said Franklin, who is competing with right-hander Joel Pineiro to be the fifth starter. "They just told me I was going three today."

The Mariners eventually lost 10-3 to the Diamondbacks and it might have seemed curious, given Seattle's practice of extending their starters as the exhibition season goes on, to pull back on Franklin.

He threw 53 pitches in three innings after having pitched four innings on Sunday against the Athletics.

The usual plan is to increase the pitching load.

"We had the day off and he threw light, and then he had kind of a big first inning today," pitching coach Bryan Price said. "I thought, now's not the time to try and push him through it. He basically did what we wanted him to do."

The Mariners won't use the fifth starter until April 9, meaning the regimen for Franklin and Pineiro will be different than other starters.

Both will be in the bullpen the first three games of the season, meaning that neither will be pushed too hard in their final starts of spring training.

Franklin gave up two runs and two hits in the first inning Friday, then settled and allowed just one walk and no runs in his other two innings.

Price said the Mariners can hold off on a fifth-starter decision as late as April 6.

"We're not leaning in any one direction," he said.

"I'm telling you honestly that no decision has been made, and I haven't heard anyone say, 'Boy, I'd kind of like to see this guy.' It's been a good dogfight and I think that will continue.

"Maybe it'll have to be a tough decision that we'll make on what's best for the team. Is it better having Pineiro starting and Frankie in the bullpen, or is it better to get an idea of what Ryan Franklin can do and start Joel in the bullpen? It's hard to say. You can't lose either way."

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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